Holding device for a tiltable mirror for vehicles

ABSTRACT

To reliably reduce the risk of injury in the return tilting of a mirror housing from a tilted end position into a position for normal use, the mirror housing initially swings against an overcomable stop, which ensures a safety distance between the lifted mirror housing edge and the mirror base. This safety distance is dimensioned such that a trapping of fingers between the mirror housing edge and the mirror base does not occur. The stop can only be overcome by the mirror housing by renewed application of force to the mirror housing, after which the mirror housing then tilts into the position for normal use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an outside mirror for a vehicle with a mirrorbase and a mirror housing capable of tilting forward and backwardrelative to the mirror base out of a position for use. The mirrorhousing is held in the position for use by means of a tension spring, amirror housing edge bearing against the edge of a mirror base plate, anda catch member, which holds the tilted mirror housing in a defined endposition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The outside mirror known from German Pat. No. 3,220,893 has arestraining lever articulated at the mirror base which bears against therear inside wall of the mirror housing under the action of a spring whenthe mirror housing is in the position for use and projects into a catchposition when the mirror housing is in the fully backward tiltedposition. In the catch position, the restraining lever grips underneaththe mirror housing edge lifted off the mirror base and thereby preventsthe return tilting of the mirror housing under the action of the tensionspring stretched between the mirror base and mirror housing.

For disengagement, the restraining lever must be pressed manuallybackward so that the mirror housing immediately tilts back powerfullyinto the position for use. With this manual disengagement, there is therisk that the fingers may become trapped between the mirror housing edgeand the mirror base plate.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to improve themechanism holding the tilted mirror housing in the defined end positionsuch that there is minimal risk of injury due to trapped fingers or thelike.

For this purpose, in the case of the outside mirror mentioned at thebeginning, the invention provides that a catch element, which isspring-loaded and grips the catch member at least in the end position,is fixed to the mirror housing or to the mirror base in the path of thecatch member.

This has the effect that the catch member and/or the catch element nolonger have to be operated directly by hand to disengage the tiltedmirror housing from the end position; a short forward blow by handagainst the mirror housing, at best against its outer portions, issufficient to make the mirror housing tilt back out of the end positioninto the position for use again.

To reliably exclude the risk of injury in the usual powerful returntilting of the mirror housing from the tilted end position into theposition for use, an essential further development of the inventionprovides that during return tilting into the position for use, themirror housing initially swings against an overcomable stop, whichensures a safety distance between the lifted mirror housing edge and themirror base. This safety distance is dimensioned such that a trapping offingers between the mirror housing edge and the mirror base does notoccur. This feature of the invention is of significance in particular ifthe mirror housing should inadvertently free itself from its tilted endposition, has, or reaches any undefined end position at all and thenswings back in the direction of its position for use with whiplasheffect. The stop can only be overcome by the mirror housing by renewedapplication of force to the mirror housing, after which the mirrorhousing then tills into the position for use.

This further safety feature of the invention may be realized in variousforms. For instance, it is recommended that the stop be formed on thecatch member so that the mirror housing is held with the safety distancementioned by the catch element running against the stop before assumingits position for use.

The invention makes a number of embodiments possible. For instance, thecatch element may be anchored to the mirror base or to the mirrorhousing, in which case the catch member is then fixed to what isrespectively the other component of the outside mirror; that is, to themirror housing or mirror base. Furthermore, it is recommended as a firstembodiment to give the catch element the form of an axially,double-conically drilled-through elastomeric insert, for example for anopening of the mirror housing on the mirror base side, the through-holehaving a conical widened portion and the catch member being an arm whichis made crowned at the end, is articulated at the mirror base and passesthrough the through-hole. In the tilted end position of the mirrorhousing, the crowned end is releasably captured in the conical widenedportion. The arm bears, approximately in its middle, against the stop,which is a likewise crowned thickened portion which can releasablyengage in the conical widened portion.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the catch element hasthe form of a spring bar which spans the opening of the mirror housingon the mirror base side and straddles the upper side of a plate shapedcatch member fixed to the mirror base. The upper side of theplate-shaped catch member has at the free end a first groove, into whichthe spring bar enters when the mirror housing has reached the tilted endposition. It is expedient if the plate-shaped catch member is grippedunderneath by a rib projecting out of the mirror housing opposite thespring bar. Serving as a stop is a second groove for the spring bar,which is made in the upper side of the catch member, approximately inits middle.

The embodiment of the invention just mentioned may be designed in such away that, instead of the rib, a second spring bar, spanning the housingopening on the mirror base side and extending parallel to the firstspring bar, is provided so that the catch member then designed as aswivel arm is embraced by both spring bars. Formed on the catch memberare two thickened portions, spaced apart and projecting radially in thedirection of the two spring bars, of which thickened portions the outerone is gripped behind by the spring bars in the end position of thehousing and the inner one serves as a stop, against which the springbars run. Instead of the spring bars, alternatively a bush may beprovided, which straddles the arm with play and which bears against itwith spring segments.

According to a further embodiment, the catch element is a disk,pivotally fixed to the mirror housing and with an axially projectinglug, which bears under spring-loading against a disk, provided with agroove corresponding to the lug, at the free end of a catch memberdesigned as a swivel arm. The tilted end position is obtained when thelug is releasably captured in the groove. Both disks are expedientlymounted on a common pin and are axially loaded by a cup spring providedon the pin. In this arrangement, the axis of the pin expediently runssubstantially transverse to a plane which is defined by an opening ofthe mirror housing enclosing the mirror glass of the outside mirror.

This embodiment of the invention may be modified in the manner that,instead of the lug with associated groove, a friction disk is interposedbetween the two disks of the catch element and of the catch member,allowing the axial spring-loading to be dispensed with. The pin holdsthe disk assembly together under such a pressure that the staticfriction between at least one surface of the friction disk and theopposite surface of the disk of the catch element or of the catch memberis greater than the return force of the tension spring for the mirrorhousing so that the mirror housing is held in the tilting end positionreached, the catch element and the catch member forming a substantiallystraight angle with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described below in detail with reference to a number ofexemplary embodiments, reference being made to the enclosed drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows the plan view of a mirror housing in the position for use,the end of which on the mirror base side is in horizontal section, themirror base being indicated diagrammatically;

FIG. 2 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1, but with the mirrorhousing held in the end position of the backward-tilted mirror housing;

FIG. 3 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a second embodimentwith mirror housing in the position for use;

FIG. 4 shows a representation similar to FIG. 2 of the embodimentaccording to FIG. 4, the mirror housing being held in thebackward-tilted end position;

FIG. 5 shows the view of section C--C from FIG. 3, for the explanationof a detail;

FIG. 6 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a third embodiment,in which the mirror housing is in the position for use;

FIG. 7 shows a representation similar to FIG. 2 of the third embodimentthe mirror housing being held in the backward-tilted end position;

FIG. 8 shows a partial view from direction U in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a fourth embodiment,in which the mirror housing is in the position for use;

FIG. 10 shows a representation similar to FIG. 2 of the fourthembodiment, in which the mirror housing is held in the backward-tiltedend position;

FIG. 11 shows the enlarged representation of a detail according to thecutaway section W from FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows an enlarged representation of the catch element fromdirection V in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a fifth embodiment,in which the mirror housing is held at the safety distance;

FIG. 14 shows a representation similar to FIG. 2 of the fifthembodiment;

FIG. 15 shows an enlarged detailed representation of a detail in thesection, B-B from FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a sixth embodiment, inwhich the mirror housing is in the position for use;

FIG. 17 shows a representation similar to Fig. 2 of the sixthembodiment, in which the mirror housing is held in the backward-tiltedend position;

FIG. 18 shows a representation similar to FIG. 2 of the sixthembodiment, but in which the mirror housing is tilted forward;

FIG. 19 shows an enlarged representation of a detail in the section A--Afrom FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 shows a representation similar to FIG. 18 of a seventhembodiment, in which the mirror housing is tilted forward;

FIG. 21 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of an eighthembodiment;

FIG. 22 shows a representation similar to FIG. 2 of the eighthemdodiment;

FIG. 23 shows a diagrammatic enlarged view of a detail from thedirection Z according to FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 the representation corresponding to FIG. 1 of a ninthembodiment, in which the mirror housing is in the position for use;

FIG. 25 shows a representation similar to FIG. 2 of the ninth embodimentin which the mirror housing is held in the backward-tilted end position;

FIG. 26 shows the diagrammatic representation of a detail in sectionalong the line E--E from FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 shows an enlarged representation of a detail in view fromdirection Y according to FIG. 24;

FIG. 28 shows an enlarged representation of the detail from FIG. 27 butin view X from FIG. 25;

FIG. 29 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a tenth embodiment;

FIG. 30 shows a representation similar to FIG. 2 of the tenthembodiment; and

FIG. 31 shows an enlarged representation of a detail from FIG. 29 in thesection D--D.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the exemplary embodiments described below for an outside mirror, thefunctionally identical parts are provided with reference numerals whosenumber before the decimal point is the same and whose number after thedecimal point is assigned to the respective embodiment.

Furthermore, the mirror base is in each case only representeddiagrammatically as a hollow block. Apart from the special featuresmentioned in detail, it has the usual form.

Thus, the mirror base 1.1 of the first embodiment has a continuous edgeportion 2.1, against which the edge of the mirror housing 20.1 bears inits position for use. In the horizontal sections represented, the frontedge section 21.1 and the rear edge section 22.1 are rounded off attheir end so that, in the tilting of the mirror housing forward (arrow19 in FIG. 1) or backward (arrow 18, FIG. 1), they can roll on therespective part of the edge portion 2.1.

A usual tension spring, one end of which is anchored to the mirror base1.1 and the other end of which is anchored to the mirror housing 20.1ensures both secure retention of the mirror housing 20.1 in the positionfor use on the mirror base 1.1 and its return into the position for useafter tilting forward or backward.

Inside the region enclosed by the edge portion 2.1, the mirror base 1.1has a slot 3.1, in which a slightly backwardly bent arm 31.1 of a catchmember, denoted generally by 30.1, is held pivotally forward andbackward about a pin 32.1 extending parallel to the tilt axis of themirror housing 20.1. The arm 31.1 has at its free end, which, in theposition for use of the mirror housing according to FIG. 1, projectsinto the inside of the latter, has a crowned thickened portion 33.1.Approximately midway between the pin 32.1 and the crowned thickenedportion 33.1, there is located a further crowned thickened portionserving as stop 34.1.

The mirror housing 20.1 has an opening 23.1 on the mirror base side,which opening is closed off at the sides by the continuous edge withedge sections 21.1, 22.1 and from the inside of the mirror housing 20.1by a wall 24.1. The wall 24.1 has an opening, in which a cylindricalplastic body 11.1 is held as a catch element, denoted generally by 10.1.The plastic body 11.1 has an axial through-opening, which is widenedconically to both opposite sides and in the middle has a conicallyshaped widened portion 12.1. The plastic body 11.1 is radially flexible,at least in the region of the widened portion 12.1. The widened portion12.1 is shaped such that it positively encloses the crowned thickenedportion 33.1 and the stop 34.1 when the latter engage in the widenedportion 12.1 in backward-tilting of the mirror housing 20.1 orreturn-tilting.

According to FIG. 2, the rear end position of the backward-tilted mirrorhousing 20.1 is defined by engagement of the thickened portion 33.1 intothe widened portion 12.1. From this end position, the mirror housing20.1 can be freed by a forward blow round about its outer edge 25.1,whereupon the mirror housing 20.1 tilts under the action of the tensionspring mentioned previously in the direction of its position for use.If, during the forward-swinging of the mirror housing 20.1, the crownedstop 34.1 is captured in the widened portion 12.1, the mirror housing20.1 remains in a position relative to the mirror base 1.1 in which theforward, lifted edge section 21.1 maintains the safety distance d withrespect to the neighboring edge portion 2.1 of the mirror base 1.1. Thesafety distance d may be about 2 cm and is intended to prevent thepossibility of fingers becoming entrapped between the front edge section21.1 and the neighboring edge portion 2.1. A renewed forward blow on themirror housing 20.1 frees the stop 34.1 from the widened portion 12.1and the mirror housing tilts into the position for use.

In the second exemplary embodiment of the invention, represented inFIGS. 3-5, the catch member 30.2 is designed as a backwardly bentlocking plate 31.2 which is fixed to the mirror based 1.2 and protrudesinto the mirror housing 20.2, and which extends between a web 35.2 and aspring bar 11.2 as catch element 10.2. The web 35.2 rises from below outof an insert ring 26.2, which is inserted in the opening 23.2 on themirror base side, and grips underneath the locking plate 31.2 oppositethe spring bar 11.2. The spring bar 11.2 spans the opening 23.2 and isanchored at its opposite ends in the insert ring 26.2 such that, as isapparent below, it is movable transversely to the locking plate 31.2 bybending.

The locking plate 31.2 has, in its surface facing the spring bar 11.2,two notches 33.2, 34.2, of which the first notch 33.2 is formed in thevicinity of the free end of the locking plate 31.2 and the second notch34.2 is formed as a stop approximately in the middle of the lockingplate 31.2.

Although not represented in FIGS. 3 to 5, a wall bounding the opening23.2 to the inside of the mirror housing 20.2 and with an opening forthe passage of the locking plate 31.2 may be provided. If the mirrorhousing 20.2 is tilted backward by the application of force from aforward position against the action of the tension spring, not shown,the spring bar 11.2 rides along the upper side of the locking plate 31.2in the direction of its free end. If the spring bar 11.2 drops into theouter, first notch 33.2, the rear end position of the tilted housing20.2 is reached, which housing remains held in this position byinteraction of the spring bar 11.2 with the first notch 33.2. To freethe housing 20.2 from the rear tilted end position, a forward blow isimparted to its end 25.2 remote from the mirror base which blow freesthe spring bar 11.2 from the first notch 33.2, so that the housing 20.2swings under the action of the tension spring toward the mirror base 1.2until the spring bar 11.2 drops into the second notch 34.2. In thisposition, the mirror housing 20.2 is securely held again, its front edgesection 21.2 maintaining the safety distance d from the edge portion 2.2in a way not shown. A renewed forward blow on the outer edge 25.2 canfree the spring bar 11.2 from the second notch 34.2 and the mirrorhousing returns under the action of the tension spring into the positionfor use represented in FIG. 3.

In the case of the third exemplary embodiment of the invention,represented in FIGS. 6 to 8, the catch member 30.2 is again an arm 31.3which is articulated at the mirror base 1.3 and is pivotal about an axisparallel to the tilt axis of the mirror housing 20.3. For this purpose,the mirror base 1.3 has a recess 3.3, in which the arm 31.3 is pivotallyheld by a pin 32.3. Similar to the case of the second embodiment, afirst spring bar 11.3, which is not entered in FIGS. 6 and 7 to simplifythe representation but can be seen in FIG. 8, grips over the arm 31.3.Parallel to the first spring bar 11.3, there extends underneath the arm31.3, a second spring bar 13.3 which, like the first spring bar, is heldat opposite ends in an insert ring 26.3. The two spring bars 11.3 and13.3 together form the catch element 10.3. The arm 31.3 extendingthrough between the too spring bars 11.3 and 13.3 has, in the vicinityof its free end, a radial thickening 33.3, the form of which is shown inFIG. 11. At the end, the arm 31.3 terminates in a radially widened stopplate 36.3, the radial dimension of which is greater than the greatestpossible intermediate space between the upwardly and downwardlyresiliently compliant spring bars 11.3 and 13.3. Formed approximately inthe middle of the arm 31.3 as a stop is a further thickened portion34.3, which has a similar cross-sectional shape as the rear thickenedportion 33.3.

The backward-tilted mirror housing 20.3 is held in the rear end positionby the spring bars 11.3 and 13.3 remaining captured between the rearthickened portion 33.3 and the stop plate 36.3. The engagement of thespring bars 11.3 and 13.3 behind the rear thickened portion 33.3 isfacilitated by a relatively flat run-up slope 37.3, facing the mirrorbase 1.3, compared with which slope the run-up slope 38.3 facing awayfrom the mirror base 1.3 has a much steeper incline. The mirror housing20.3 can again be freed from the tilted end position by a forward blowon its outer end, enabling the spring bars 11.3 and 13.3 to pass overthe rear thickened portion 33.3 by deviating to the side. The tensionspring swings the mirror housing 20.3, freed from the tilted endposition, in the direction of its position for use, until the two springbars 11.1 and 13.3 run up against the steep run-up slope 40.3 of thestop 34.3, facing away from the mirror base 1.3. The mirror housing 20.3is held in this position, in which the lifted front edge section 21.3maintains the safety distance d with respect to the neighboring edgeportion 2.3. A renewed forward blow causes the spring bars 11.3 and 13.3also to brush over the stop 34.3 by deviating to the side, whereupon themirror housing 20.3 returns to the position for use represented in FIG.6. As shown, the stop 34.3 has a run-up slope 39.3 close to the mirrorbase of substantially smaller incline than the run-up slope 40.3 remotefrom the mirror base. It can be appreciated from this exemplaryembodiment of the invention that the mirror housing cannot be swungbeyond the tilted end position, which is prevented by the stop plate36.3 so that the arm 31.3 constantly remains captured between the springbars 11.3 and 13.3.

In the case of the fourth embodiment of the invention, represented inFIGS. 9-12, a catch member 30.4, which resembles the catch member 30.3,is provided. To avoid repetitions, reference can be made to thedescription above of the catch member 30.3 also for this exemplaryembodiment. In the case of the fourth exemplary embodiment, the catchmember 30.4 is fixed pivotally to an ear 4.4 projecting from the mirrorbase 1.4 in the direction of the mirror housing 20.4. The essentialdifference from the embodiment of the invention described above is adifferent design of the catch element 10.4. While in the thirdembodiment the catch element 10.3 is formed by the two parallel springbars 11.3 and 13.3, in the fourth embodiment, the catch element 10.4consists of an axially drilled-through bush which is mounted pivotallyin a wall 24.4, bounding the opening 23.4 on the mirror base side fromthe inside of the mirror housing 20.4, by means of laterally protrudingopposite pins 14 4, 15.4, accommodated in bearings 27.4, 28.4 made inthe wall 24.4. The bush-shaped catch element 10.4 projects into theinside of the mirror housing 20.4, and its ability to pivot is ensuredby an opening 29.4 in the wall 24.4. The bush-shaped catch element 10.4is axially drilled-through and surrounds the arm 31.4 of the catchmember 30.4 at a distance. The catch element 10.4 has four catchsegments evenly distributed around the circumference of the arm 31.4, ofwhich segments the catch segments lying opposite in the sectional viewof FIG. 10 are denoted by 11.4, 13.4. The catch segments are radiallyflexible due to axial incisions 12.4 in the bush body. All catchsegments bear against the periphery of the arm 31.4 and are shaped ontheir end face facing the arm 31.4 such that they can positively gripbetween themselves the thickened portion 33.4 and/or the stop 34.4, ascan be seen from the catch segments 11.4 and 13.4.

If the mirror housing 20.4 tilts backward out of the position for userepresented in FIG. 9, the catch segments on the periphery of the catchmember 30.4 move along in the direction of its free end until theyprevent a further backward tilting of the mirror housing 20.4 by runningagainst the stop plate 36.4. At the same time, as FIG. 10 shows by thecatch segments 11.4, 13.4, all catch segments positively grip the rearthickening 33.4, so that the mirror housing 20.4 is held in the tiltedend position. From this position, the mirror housing 20.4 can be freedby the forward blow mentioned, until the catch segments grip the stop34.3 between themselves. In this position, the lifted front edge section21.4 maintains the safety distance d with respect to the neighboringedge portion 2.4 of the mirror base 1.4. A further forward blow makesthe mirror housing 20.4 return under the action of the tension springmentioned to its position for use according to FIG. 9.

In the case of the fifth exemplary embodiment of the outside mirror,represented in FIGS. 13 to 15, the catch member 30.5 is an arm 31.5articulated at the mirror base 1.5 by means of an ear 4.5 and a pin32.5, which arm is movable about an axis parallel to the tilt axis ofthe mirror housing 20.5 and limiting upward and downward movementrelative to the mirror base 1.5. At its free end protruding into theinside of the mirror housing 20.5, a locking disk 41.5 is integrallyattached, facing forward, in the forward-facing flat surface of whichtwo notches 33.5, 34.5, circumferentially spaced apart, are made.

The catch element 10.5 has a relatively short arm 14.5, which is fixedat one end pivotally about a vertical and a horizontal axis via a joint15.5 on the inside of the mirror housing 20.5. At the other end, the arm14.5 is widened into a second disk 13.5, which has the same radius asthe locking disk 41.5. From the flat surface of the disk 13.5 facing thelocking disk 41.5 there protrudes a lug 11.5, the contour of which isadapted to the notches 33.5, 34.5. The disk 13.5 and the locking disk41.5 are penetrated axially in the center by a hollow rivet 17.5 onwhich a spreading spring 16.5, acting axially on the disks 13.5 and41.5, is mounted.

If the mirror housing 20.5 tilts backward out of the position for use,against the action of the tension spring (not represented), the lockingdisk 41.5 and the disk 13.5 turn relative to each other about the rivet17.5 until the lug 11.5 has dropped into the first notch 33.5 under theaction of the spring 16.5. The tilted mirror housing 20.5 is, accordingto FIG. 14, held in this end position until a forward blow on the mirrorhousing 20.5 frees the lug 11.5 from the first notch 33.5, and themirror housing returns under the action of the tension spring in thedirection of its position for use. Along this path, the lug 11.5 dropsinto the second notch 34.5, acting as a stop, and holds the mirrorhousing 20.5, according to FIG. 13, such that the front edge section21.5 maintains the safety distance d mentioned with respect to theopposite edge portion 2.5. A further blow on the mirror housing 20.5brings the lug 11.3 out of the second notch 34.5 so that the mirrorhousing can return to its position for use, in which the front edgesection 21.5 is on the associated edge portion 2.5. It goes withoutsaying that the form of the notches 33.5 and 34.5 may be shapedasymmetrically approximately corresponding to the different inclines ofthe run-up slopes 37.3, 38.3. The movements of the arm 14.5 during thetilting movement of the mirror housing 20.5 are made possible by thejoint 15.5.

In the case of the sixth exemplary embodiment of the outside mirror,represented in FIGS. 16 to 19, the mirror housing 20.6 is connected tothe mirror base 1.6 via an intermediate plate 50.6, on which a tensionspring 51 acts with one end. The other end of the tension spring 51 isanchored on the mirror housing 20.6 at 52 (FIG. 18). The intermediateplate 50.6 is provided with a tang 53.6, projecting behind the tensionspring 51 in the direction of the mirror housing 20.6. In the directionof the mirror base 1.6, two posts 54.6 and 55 project out of theintermediate plate 50.6, which posts enter a recess 3.6 in the mirrorbase 1.6 in the position for use of the mirror housing 20.6 (FIG. 16).

On the rear edge portion 5.6 of the mirror base 1.6 there projectsparallel to the tang 53.6 a link plate 6.6. The tang 53.6 and the linkplate 6.6 are interconnected via a double-hinge joint 7.6, which isknown in its basic design from the hinge fittings for furniture doors.The hinge 7.6 lends the mirror housing 20.6 the possibility of pivotingabout two hinge pins 71, 72, offset transversely to the swivel axis, onthe link plate 6.6, with the advantage that the rear edge section 22.6of the mirror housing edge no longer rolls on the edge portion 5.6 intilting.

The depressing 3.6 of the mirror base 1.6 is widened in the direction ofthe mirror housing 20.6 for receiving a stop body 34.6, which has athrough-opening for the passage of the posts 54.6, 55. On the rear partof the outside surface of the stop body 34.6, there is mounted a strongleaf spring 30.6, bent at the end to form a lug 33.6 pointing toward themirror housing 20.6, which leaf spring is accommodated in a niche 8.6,open toward the mirror housing 20.6. Of the hinge bands belonging to thehinge joint 7.6, the hinge band 10.6 neighboring the leaf spring 30.6has a projecting boss 11.6 on the associated joint pin 72 mounted on thelink plate 6.6.

If the mirror housing 20.6 tilts backward, its tilted end position isreached when the boss 11.6 has slid over the lug 33.6, withcorresponding deflection of the leaf spring 30.6 and grips behind thelatter as FIG. 17 shows. As a result, the mirror housing 20.6 is held inthe tilted end position until it is freed from this position by theforward blow mentioned.

The stop body 34.6 has a relatively steep outer run-up surface 39.6 andan inner, flatter run-up surface 40.6 which bound the clearance throughthe stop body 34.6 on both opposite sides. On the other hand, the posts54.6 and 55 are drilled-through in axial alignment so that a catch body17.5, 18.5 can be inserted axially displaceably in each of thethrough-holes. A spiral spring 19.5 is supported between the two innerwidened portions of the catch bodies 17.5 and 18.5. Both catch bodies17.5, 18.5 are, as FIG. 19 shows, rounded off conically at their endsprojecting out of the axially aligned holes in the posts 54.6 and 55.

If, after freeing from its rear end position, the mirror housing 20.6 isswung back under the action of the tension spring (not represented) inthe direction of its position for use, the catch bodies 17.5, 18.5 meetwith their conical ends the opposite steep run-up surfaces 39.6 of thecatch body 34.6 so that the mirror housing is held securely before thefinal return to its position for use in such a way that the safetydistance d mentioned is maintained between the front edge section 21.6and the opposite edqe portion 2.6. Only after a further forward blow arethe catch bodies 17.5, 18.5 urged axially inward against the action ofthe spring 19.5 so that the posts 54.6, 55 of the intermediate disk 50.6can enter the recess 3.6, and the catch bodies 17.5, 18.5 bear againstthe inner run-up slope 40.6, as shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 18 shows the mirror housing 20.6 in a position tilted forwardrelative to the mirror base, in which position the tension spring 51 isstretched, and the intermediate plate 50.6 remains in its contact withthe stop body 34.6.

In order also to create a forward defined end position in forwardtilting of the mirror housing 20.7, FIG. 20 shows a seventh embodimentof the outside mirror, in which, in comparison with the sixthembodiment, the tension spring 51 is replaced by a double hinge joint9.7. The front joint 9.7 and the rear joint 7.7 correspond in theirdesign to the joint 7.6 from the sixth embodiment. Similarly to thelatter, here too the hinge band neighboring the mirror base 1.7 isprovided with a radially projecting boss 11.7 which, in the forward endposition of the mirror housing 20.7, engages behind a lug 33.7,projecting in the direction of the mirror housing 20.7, of a leaf spring30.7, fixed here to the intermediate plate 50.7. Otherwise, the seventhembodiment is the same as the previously described sixth embodiment ofthe outside mirror.

The further three exemplary embodiments of an outside mirror explainedbelow do not initially provide any stop against which the mirror housingcould be held on return to its position for use from a tilted endposition, maintaining the safety distance d. Nevertheless, the risk ofinjury in the case of these embodiments is already excluded solely bythe fact that there is no need to reach into the region between thelifted mirror housing edge section and the opposite part of the edgeportion of the mirror base to release the mirror housing from the tiltedend position.

In the case of the eighth embodiment represented in FIGS. 21 to 23, themirror base 1.8 is provided between its edge portions 2.8 with adepression 3.8, open towards the mirror housing 20.8. The depression 3.8serves to receive the end, on the mirror base side, of a catch member30.8, firmly anchored in the mirror housing (20.8) to the latter in away not shown, in the position for use of the mirror housing 20.8represented in FIG. 21. Vertically next to the depression 3.8, a holdingplate 4.8 projects out of the mirror base 1.8 into an opening 23.8 onthe mirror base side, which holding plate bears a catch element 10.8,still to be described and represented in FIG. 23 from direction Z.

The catch member 30.8 here consists of an elongate arm 31.8, theunrepresented end of which is firmly riveted or correspondingly fixed tothe inside of the bottom of the mirror housing 20.8. The end of the arm31.8 on the mirror base side and protruding out of the opening 23.8 iscranked twice in such a way that the end section 35.8 points rearwardtoward the opening 23.8, as represented. On the end section 35.8 thereis mounted a dome-shaped catch body 33.8, pointing toward the opening23.8, which catch body is undercut at its transition to the end section35.8.

The catch element 10.8 has a hairpin spring 11.8, held in two spacedapart supports 12.8, 14.8 and with two parallel legs 13.8, 15.8. Thelegs 13.8, 15.8 are bulged outward in each case between the supports12.8, 14.8 so that the head of the catch body 33.8 can slip through intothe intermediate space between the legs 13.8, 15.8, widening the same.

If the mirror housing 20.8 is tilted backward against the action of thetension spring, the catch member 30.8 follows the tilting movement. Thecatch body 33.8 of the latter finds in its path the widened portionbetween the two legs 13.8, 15.8 of the catch element 10.8 and penetratesthese so that the legs drop into the undercut o the catch body 33.8.Consequently, the rear end position of the backward tilting movement ofthe mirror housing 20.8 is defined. To release the mirror housing 20.8from the rear end position, again a short forward blow is exerted on itsouter edge 25.8, whereupon the legs 12.8, 14.8 come free from theundercut of the catch body 33.8 and the mirror housing returns to itsposition for use under the action of the tension spring.

This eighth embodiment of the invention may be provided in a simple waywith a stop, for instance, by fixing a component similar to the catchelement 10.8 inside the depression 3.8 and fitting a corresponding catchbody on the end of the catch member opposite the catch body 33.8.

The ninth embodiment of an outside mirror, represented in FIGS. 24 to28, is similar to the fifth embodiment in that two disks are in constantsurface engagement with each other. Thus, the catch element 10.9 isarticulated about two mutually perpendicular axes by means of a joint15.9 inside the mirror housing 20.9 and is provided at the free end witha disk 14.9. On the other hand, the catch member 30.9, which, like thecatch member 30.5, is jointedly fixed to the mirror base 1.9 via an arm31.9, has at the free end reaching into the inside of the mirror housing20.9 a locking disk 41.9. The two disks 14.9 and 41.9 are mounted on acommon rivet 43.9, passing axially through them a friction plate 42.9being interposed between the two equal height and sized disks 14.9 and41.9. The disks 14.9 and 41.9 are pressed on both sides against thefriction plate 42.9 by the rivet 43.9 with such a force that the tensileforce of the tension spring (not represented) in each forward-tiltingposition of the mirror housing 20.9 is not quite enough to overcome thestatic friction between the friction plate 42.9 and the disk 14.9 or thelocking disk 43.9, respectively.

In the position for use of the mirror housing 20.9, the arm 31.9 and thecatch element 10.9 substantially form a right angle (FIG. 27). Duringthe backward tilting of the mirror housing 20.9, the angle formed by thecatch member 30.9 and the catch element 10.9 increases and, in the rearend position of the mirror housing 20.9, assumes virtually a straightangle (FIG. 28). In this case, a projection, not represented in detail,may be provided on the catch element (10.9), which projection preventsthe assumption of a straight angle between catch element 10.9 and catchmember 30.9. The rear end position is then reached when the catch member30.9 comes into contact with the projection of the catch element 10.9.

The mirror housing 20.9 can be freed from the rear end position (FIG. 25by a forward blow on the remote end 25.9, which blow imparts on themirror housing an impetus of such magnitude that the static frictionbetween the disks 14.9 and 41.9, on the one hand, and the friction plate43.9, on the other hand, is overcome by the impetus and the tensileforce of the tension spring, and the mirror consequently returnsautomatically into its position for use (FIG. 24). This embodiment ofthe invention has the additional advantage over the embodimentspreviously described that the mirror housing 20.9 returns more slowlyfrom the freed rear end position into its position for use than would bepossible without the reciprocal engagement between the friction plate42.9, on the one hand, and the catch member 30.9 and the catch element10.9, respectively, on the other hand. Due to the further fact that thetensile force of the tension spring is only slightly greater than thesliding friction between the disks 14.9 and 41.9, on the one hand, andthe friction plate 42.9, on the other hand, fingers can no longer becometrapped between the bent-off forward edge 21.9 of the mirror housing20.9 and the opposite edge portion, because fingers which may beendangered can be withdrawn in time before the position for use isassumed and, furthermore, the clamping force which is exerted, ifappropriate, by the front edge 21.9 is substantially less thanpreviously expected.

In the case of the tenth embodiment of the outside mirror, representedin FIGS. 29 to 31, a catch member 30.10 is articulated at forks 5.10,8.10 of a holding plate 4.10 of the mirror base 1.10 about an axisparallel to the tilt axis of the mirror housing 20.10. The swivel shaft22.10, on which the swivel arm 31.10 is mounted, is held at the ends ofthe forks 5.10, 8.10, reaching inside the mirror housing 20.10. Theswivel arm 31.10 extends in the direction of the edge portion 2.10 ofthe mirror base 1.10 for the front edge section 21.10 of the mirrorhousing 20.10 with a curved front outer contour. The free end of theswivel arm 31.10 reaches with a lug 37.10 into a longitudinal slot 3.10in the mirror base 1.10, which extends transversely to the tilt axis ofthe mirror housing from front to back and ends in the vicinity of theedge portion 2.10 for the front edge section 21.10.

The swivel arm 31.10 is under the load of a spiral spring 16.10, whichextends in the direction of the longitudinal slot 3.10 and isaccommodated in a pocket 9.10 of the mirror base 1.10. The spring 16.10presses the swivel arm 31.10 forward so that, in the tilted end positionof the mirror housing 20.10, represented in FIG. 30, the lug 37.10 ofthe swivel arm bears against the front inner surface of the longitudinalslot 3.10 and the one forward-facing shoulder 35.10 of the swivel arm31.10 rests on the edge portion 2.10.

If the mirror housing 20.10 is tilted backward, the swivel arm 31.10remains pressed under the compression of the spring 16.10 in thedirection of the front inside surface of the slot 3.10 so that theinside of the front edge section 21.10 rides on the bent outside contouruntil the front edge section 21.10 drops with its crowned contour into atrap 33.10 formed on the swivel arm 31.10 in the vicinity of the swivelshaft 32.10. The swivel arm 31.10 is constantly pushed forward in thiscase by the spring 16.10 in the tilting of the mirror housing. Thetilted end position is, therefore, defined by dropping of the front edgesection 21.10 into the trap 33.10.

To disengage the mirror housing 20.10 from the end position (FIG. 30), asmall forward blow is exerted on the mirror housing, which blow freesthe front edge section 21.10 from the trap 33.10 and allows the mirrorhousing to return slowly under the action of the tension spring into theposition for use (FIG. 29). The slowness of the return movement of themirror housing 20.10 is caused by the friction contact between the bentouter contour of the swivel arm 31.10 and the inside of the front edgesection 21.10. When the front edge section 21.10 comes free from thetrap, the swivel arm 31.10 at the same time pivots backward against theaction of the spring 16.10 to such an extent that the shoulder 35.10comes free from the contact with the mirror base 1.10.

We claim:
 1. An outside mirror for a vehicle, said outside mirrorcomprising:a mirror base, a mirror housing tiltably mounted on saidmirror base for forward and backward movement relative to said mirrorbase and out of a normal use position to a tilted end position, springmeans for retaining said mirror housing in the normal use position atthe mirror base and for biasing said mirror housing from the tilted endposition in a direction toward the normal use position, an edge of saidmirror housing bearing against an edge of said mirror base, a catchmember for holding said mirror housing in the tilted end position, andsaid catch member including overcomable stop means for securing saidmirror housing at a safety position between the tilted end position andthe normal use position, and a catch element gripping said catch memberat least in the tilted end position and the safety position, said catchelement being fixed to said mirror housing in a patch of said catchmember wherein the spring means biases the mirror housing, when releasedfrom the tilted end position, to move the mirror housing to the safetyposition.
 2. An outside mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catchelement is an axially double-conically drilled-through elastomericinsert mounted in an opening of said mirror housing adjacent said mirrorbase, said insert having a conically widened portion and said catchmember is an arm articulated at said mirror base and passing throughsaid insert.
 3. The outside mirror as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidstop means realleasably engages said widened portion.
 4. The outsidemirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catch element is a spring barspanning an opening of said mirror housing adjacent said mirror base andstraddles an upper side of said catch member mounted on said mirrorbase, said catch member being plate-shaped and said upper side having,at least at, its free end, a first groove.
 5. The outside mirror asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said plate-shaped catch member is grippedunderneath by a rib projecting out of said mirror housing opposite saidspring bar.
 6. The outside mirror as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidplate-shaped catch member has, approximately in the middle of itslength, a second groove forming said stops means.
 7. The outside mirroras claimed in claim 4, wherein said plate shaped catch member is bentbackward.
 8. The outside mirror as claimed in claim 4, wherein a furtherspring bar, parallel to said spring bar, is provided in said opening ofsaid mirror housing adjacent said mirror base and said further springbar straddling an underside of said catch member.
 9. The outside mirroras claimed in claim 8, wherein said catch member including at its freeend a stop plate and has, at a distance from said stop plate, a firstthickened portion and, approximately in the middle of its length, asecond thickened portion forming said stop means, the two thickenedportions being capable of being overcome by said spring bars.
 10. Theoutside mirror as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thickened portion isprovided with run-up surfaces, said run-up surfaces facing away fromsaid mirror base having a greater inclination than run-up surfacesfacing said mirror base.
 11. The outside mirror as claimed in claim 1,wherein said catch member is a bar articulated at said mirror base, saidbar including, in the vicinity of its end, a first thickened portionand, approximately in its middle, a second thickened portion as saidstop means, and wherein said catch element is a bush axially drilledthrough and fixed pivotally to said mirror housing, said bush havingradially flexible catch segments bearing against the periphery of saidcatch member.
 12. The outside mirror as claimed in 11, wherein saidcatch segments are shaped on a surface facing said arm corresponding tothe form of said thickened portions.